MULGRAVE — The Town of Mulgrave is facing a costly infrastructure challenge after an engineering report revealed severe structural damage to one of its main bridges and significant deterioration in another.
During council’s Oct. 6 meeting, Chief Administrative Officer David Gray read from a newly completed inspection report by CBCL Engineering & Environmental Design Services. The 32-page summary found the Donkin St. Bridge to be in “critically poor condition,” citing the failure of a primary stringer, deterioration of adjacent members, and guardrails that provide no protection.
“The bridge currently lacks load posting despite significant loss of structural capacity,” Gray said. “Immediate action: limit vehicle loading on the Donkin St. Bridge until structural evaluation is completed. Measures may include temporary shoring or traffic restrictions.”
The report also advised the town to begin replacement planning for the bridge as part of its long-term asset management strategy, noting that short-term repairs would offer “limited benefit.”
By contrast, the Murray St. Bridge remains serviceable but shows worsening deck and asphalt wear, along with erosion risks that require attention. CBCL recommended patching, crack sealing and scour protection to extend the bridge’s life.
Gray said the findings highlight growing budget pressures on the town.
“They’re looking for immediate action,” he told council. “So, we’ve got our treatment plant, waterfront development and McNair’s Cove, we have this bridge… we’ve got lots of pressure on our budget.”
He added that staff would review the report in detail and ask the town’s public works department to post signage at the Donkin St. Bridge as a temporary safety measure.
Other councillors expressed alarm over the report’s findings. Councillor Robert Russell noted that the bridge’s condition presents a serious hazard for heavy vehicles.
“It’s garbage trucks and fuel trucks – I’d be more worried about fuel trucks,” he said. “Just the heating oil in that is 7.3 pounds per gallon. That’s a lot of weight in those trucks. And, if we have any other kind of tractor trailers running through that area… there definitely should be some signage put up there. I saw photos, and one of the structural beams is literally broken. I’d say this is more of a priority than anything else right now.”
Councillor Jane Tate echoed the concern, citing potential legal and public-safety risks if the town does not act quickly.
“It could be an ambulance crossing, with sirens creating vibration – we’re going to be subject to all kinds of legal issues,” she said. “Same if one of our residents crosses and their car goes in. The legal and health issues are too great for us not to do this immediately. It has to be done. After I saw those pictures, I couldn’t believe it. I don’t have confidence in that bridge – none.”
In a follow-up interview with The Journal, Mayor Ron Chisholm said the town must now follow engineering protocols before taking action.
“By the looks of the pictures I’ve seen, I would assume [load restrictions are needed],” he said. “Now, the biggest part of it all is we have to wait. There are protocols we have to follow, we can’t just jump on it ourselves. We have to make sure it’s done through a study through engineering.”
Chisholm confirmed that the town is looking into options to have the bridge professionally assessed as soon as possible.
“I see that Port Hawkesbury is having their bridges checked today,” he said. “So, I asked Dave [Gray] to take a peek and see if we can find out who’s doing it and if there’s a possibility of them coming over and doing ours.”
Asked if the situation is urgent, Chisholm didn’t hesitate.
“In my eyes, I’d say yes,” he said.
Though funding options for any replacement remain unclear.
“I don’t know – this is new to us,” the mayor said, noting that the town will await the engineering update before deciding on next steps.
